Deputy General Secretary for Confederation of African Football (CAF) in charge of development and competitions, Anthony Baffoe has called on Ghana to step up preparations for the impending Africa Women’s Championship.
The former Black stars player in an interview aired by the BBC Africa challenged the Local Organizing Committee to intensify preparations since time was not on their side. The tournament is set to begin on the 17th of November 2018.
“I need to be blunt, they are behind if I say they I mean Ghana. They need to step up preparation,” the former Black Stars defender told BBC Africa.
This story unfolds a few weeks after the Deputy Sports Minister Hon. Perry Okudzeto, assured the media that CAF had already confirmed Ghana as the host of the competition despite reports circulating that the continent’s football governing body could strip Ghana off the hosting rights.
“Over the period, there have been some doubts, there have been stories in the media over whether or not we (Ghana) are going to host this tournament, I want to place on record today, here and now, that Ghana has the full blessing of CAF to host the 2018 Women AFCON,” Perry said during the launch of Accra Venue Organizing Committee last week.
However, CAF seem to be unhappy with the country’s pace of work if Mr. Baffoe’s comments with BBC is anything to go by. CAF would decide on Ghana’s fate at their extraordinary General Assembly in Cairo on Friday the 28th of September 2018.
The Local Organizing Committee submitted it’s second report to CAF to give an update on preparations so far with regards to infrastructure and venues for the tournament.
The Accra Sports Stadium is expected to host the opening game of the competition and pictures released by the Ministry of Youth and Sports shows the venue is in its final phase of renovation.
Updates on the El Wak and Presec Legon facilities were included in the report to CAF.
Teams based in Accra will use the El Wak and Presec Legon parks for their training sessions.
The tournament is scheduled for November 17 to December 1, 2018.